- Gives 49 University of Abuja students scholarship to mark 50 years bilateral relations with Nigeria
Published By Olukayode Idowu
The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun has asked Nigerian universities to proffer solutions to the myriad developmental challenges confronting Nigeria in order to set the nation on the path to prosperity.
He challenged the authorities of the University of Abuja and its students to be at the forefront of finding lasting solutions to the nation’s problems.
The envoy gave this advice on Wednesday, during the presentation of scholarship awards to 49 students of the University of Abuja in recognition of their academic performance.
The event, which was held at the main campus of the university, was to commemorate China and Nigeria Independence anniversaries and to mark the 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Chinese Ambassador expressed appreciation for the University’s effort to build a relationship with China, stressing that the award is “an incentive to the students, to encourage them to spend time to study about Chinese history”.
He told the staff and students that they must brace up to the challenge of helping to eradicate extreme poverty in Nigeria just as China did between 1978 and 2020, when it lifted nearly a billion people out of extreme poverty.
He said: “In February, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced and declared to the international community that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) China has eradicated extreme poverty ten years ahead of the United Nations SDGs. This is a great contribution not only to China but to the international community.
“Nigeria has a goal by the year 2030 for the eradication of extreme poverty. You are the future of Nigeria, we have lessons, we have policies, we have programmes and we have success stories to showcase. I am working to bring Nigerian people to China next year to study the secret of the Chinese people, the Chinese government and CPC, which has done the unprecedented in eradicating extreme poverty.”
He noted also that China has built a moderately prosperous society and socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Ambassador Jinachun lauded Nigeria for its support in the restoration of China’s lawful seat in the UN in October 1971, adding that both countries support multilateralism.
Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, in his remarks expressed delight that the Chinese ambassador has decided that more students will be given scholarships based on their academic performance.
He said this was a big investment in the young people who are the leaders of tomorrow; even as he charged the students saying “this scholarship given to you today is to propel you to be more committed to humanity.”
He also informed that the institution will soon start a degree programme in railway engineering and Chinese Language, which will get expert training from China.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of three breathing machines, three oxygen machines and 500 masks to the University for the use of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) by the Chinese Ambassador.